Our analysis of gene expression in pretreatment biopsies from RCC found a clear association between low baseline sPD-L1 and higher expression of an ‘Angiogenesis’ signature that predicts a positive response to sunitinib in the ImMotion 150 trial.4 The ‘Angiogenesis’ signature also predicts refractory disease in CheckMate 009/RCC.19 Thus sPD-L1 in the peripheral blood may be a more accessible, less expensive surrogate for ‘Angiogenesis’ signature of RCC tumors. The gene discussed is SPDL1; the disease is renal cell carcinoma.